Electric signal system



' Jan. 27, 1931.

T. H. THOMAS 1,790,180

' ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM FiledSept. 22. 1927 INVENTOR As H.THOMA$ ATTO NEY alt Patented Jan. 27, 1931 e THbMAS n 'rrioivias; or, EDGEWOGD,l'PENNSYLVANIA, nssieivon iomrinwnsmineesousniun BBAKsscoMPaNY, or wiminnm ve, PENlJSYLV-ANIAfA CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA;

ELECTRIC-SIGNAL :{SYSTEM 3 Application fiieise teinberea;1927i Serial in), 221,152.

This invention relates to signal systems and more particularly toganelectric signal system adapted for use on railwaytrains.

Anobject of my inventicnis to provide a train signal system by the use of which a trainman :may signal the engineman from anyca-rv of. a-train and by which the engineman may cause his reply signal to be transmitted tothe car statioirtrom which the trainmans signal originate-d and,- further,

2b) which the ,engineman may signal any number ofcar stations which have been previously rendered operative bythe' trainman.

yinvention'.

- figure is a diagrammatic View of a train sig- .-nal system embodying myinventionr Another object of the inventionl is to prowide a train signal systemin which the si /'-I nal 'de "ice forthe traimnan is sounded by 1 tric circuit operated bythe engineman,

' These and other objects will appearin the following more'detailed' description of'the In the accompanying drawingyithe single 1 1 According to my invention, the locomotive or controller car of a railway train is pro vided'with an" engineinan7s switch having a a 1 rectifier l1,- and a source -movable contactjarin 2 which is normally held in contact with a contact point 3 by a spring or any-other desiredmeans The :locom'otivfe isfu'rther provided with asign'al' indicating device such as an alternating cur- .rent buzzer 5. -The;contact point 3 of the switch isconnected to ground at 6 and the switch arm is connected withone terminal ofthebuzzer while the other terminal is v connected with'atrain wire 7.

Each carof the train may be provided with atrainmans switch device 8, 'an'induction coil;9, a signal indicating device-10,'a

f electric current,

vsuch as a battery 12 e v The switch dev1ce'8 comprlses a casing-13 which contains a sliding contactmember 14c "having an operatingstem 15 adapted-tobe operated by a lever 16 having operating'arms lZand 1 8, each having 'an'operatino; cord 19 connectedtherewith. -Mounted on th'ecasing ther'eare. fulcrum pins 20' and 21 WhlClT ZIIf operated the lever the lever 16 turnsaboutthe fulcrum pin 20 to operatethestein 15, and when the arm 18 is pin 21 to operate said stem.

turns: about the fulcrum f The Contact member 14 is provided with taind'in th'epositionlshown in the drawing byethe action of a spring Qimountdinthe I casing. f Thismember 14," when moved 121:1)16- determined distance fro'm its normal posicontacts 22 and 23 and is normallylmaintimnengagesastOp '25for1nd on a 'lu' h'av;

ing screw tlireaded connection with t-hef casing. Incorder tolprevent rotative moven'ient of'the contact meniber 14 aQgu-ide bush l-V ing 26, having screwfthre'aded.engagement ivith tlielcasiiig l3, isprovid which engages in a groove formed in the contact member. Arranged withijnfthebasing" 7 13 are contact terminals 28,?29, 130,; and 31.

with a ping? The contact terminal 28 i's'fcon'necjtedi withdf one end of ja coil 32;o'ftheinduction coil'i),

the opposite end ofj such coi1 32being' con-v nected with a contact 33 with which an" interrup'ter 34 is adapted to: Contact. The proper contact between oneend of the 'in-' I: terrupter 34 and the contact 33 is insure'd by he actionof'a spring 35. The o'pposite end of this nterrupter 34 is connected to" ground at-SG-and is also connected to one endof a coil 3? of the induction coil 9 the other'end 0t whlch co1l37'1sconnected with the contact terminal 311., The induction c-oilis-also piv ded \vltll llllG usual armaturjeor core '38 with fwhich the interrupter 34L is} adapted to ta t," The Contact terminal QQ isconnected -.with the positive terminal of the battery 12, Y

the negative terminalol such battery being;

connected to fgroun-dat' Therconta ct terminal'29 andthe positive terminal of the battery 12 are also connected to "a tine 40 of a jack, whic'hjack has a .tin'e' 41 connected with a magnet portion of the signal-inch eating" device 10, the rectifierfll being inter posed between th'emagnet and the tinefll to permit current to flow in the direction; as in-v dicated bytheg-arrow in theidra'win'g The j" j magnet portion ofjthesig'nal indicating de r connectedtby-a connection 43, with the train wire 7, there being a condenser 44 interposed in this connection for preventing the flow of 7 direct current through thisconnection to the induction coil 9' W hen the contact 23 is in contact with the contact terminals and- 31. The signal indicating device 10 may comprise a casing containing the hereinbefore mentioned magnet portion. and also containing" arvalve 45Ifor controllingthe flow of fluid under pressure from a passage 46 to a passage 47 leading to a soundingdevice such as a whistle 48. The passage 46 is connected with a reservoir 49 by a pipe 50.- The casing other, so that the operationot one valve will Jensurecthe proper operation of the. other.

- v.Norinally the valve 45 is in its open position and'the, valve51is in its closed position as shown in: the fdrawingand both valves are jniaintained in such positions by a spring 52 mounted in the casing and acting upon the .valve 51. j

Interpos'ed thepipe, through whichlfiuid under pressure is supplied'to the passage 46 and reservoir 49, there isfia check valve device 53 which,- when an einergency'application .of the brake is made, prevents the fluid inderpressure in the reservoir fron flowing Q-back-tothe brake pipe or other source otsupply,, thus maintaining sufficient. pressure in the reservoir to operate thewhistle I Assuming the several parts of my invention to be intheir normal p'ositions as shown in the drawing; and the trainman' desires to signal the engineman the trainnian pulls the f cord 19 .untilthe contact neinber 14 comes to rest against the stop25, at which timethe contact'22 will connectthe contact terminals 28 and 29, and the contact 23 will connectthe contactterininalsf30 and 31, which permits current to flow from the positive terminal of the battery-12tothe coil 32 and therethrou'gh .to. the contact 33 and, as the interrupter34is normally held in contactwith the contact 33,

zbythe'spring 35; the current through to-ground36a The currentthus flow 2, ing throughthe'coil 32,m'a1gnetizes the arma- V ture or core, 38 of theinduction coil 9,"so that the interrupter 34 is! drawn out of contact" with the contact 33, thu s open i ng the; circuit 3 :from the; battery 12-,. and interruptinglthe flow of current throughthe. coil 32. l/Vheir the flow, of 'current s thus interrupted, the 5 i spring, 35fcaiises-*the'iinterrupter 34 tof be" [again movedinto Contact with the contact 33 V p p a p prevent the flow of direct current througlil the armature becoi nes 'lema gnt jzd d the I which again closes.thecircuit, and. these lop- :erations; continue '50 long. as. t he. trainman" inain'tainsthe contact memberin'its depressed will tlow thereposition. The making and breaking of the circuit through the coil 32 causes an alternating current to be induced in the coil 37 which fiows through the contact terminal 31, con-.

tact 23, contact terminal 30, wire 43 and through the condenser 44 to the traiiiwire 7,

thenthroughthe buzzer 5, switch arm 2 and contact 3 to ground 6, thus causing the buzzer 5- at the enginen ans station to operate By operating thecontact member up and down, the trainmanmay cause. any predeterm ned signal to be sounded atth e engineinaiis station.

For. the trainman toreceive a signal initiated by the engineman or in reply to his 54 is inserted between the tines and .41 of the ack, current is permitted to flow from the positive terminal of the battery through the jack, rectifierll, magnet portion of the signal device -10, train wire "7, buzzer 5, arm 2 and contact 3 of the enginemans switch to groiinclfi, thus energizing the magnet por- :tionof the signal ClQVICG, which causes the valv '45' to seat and the valve 51 to unseat. IVhen the "valve 51"is thus unseated, fluid under pressure flows past the check valve 53 and valve 51, through passage 46 and pipe and chargeisthe ,i'e'servoir 49 the enginem'an'. desires to "signahthe trainnian,- he

signal to the enginemainhe must insert a plug 54'between the tines 40 and 41 of the jack at each of the car stations where he desires the engin emans signal to sound. :VVhen the plug lnOVStllef SwitCh arm 2 outof contact with the contact'3 and breaksthe circuit justdescribed, causing the magnet portion of the signal device 10 to become deenergizechwhicli permits the spring 52 toseat the valve 51 and unseat the-valve 45. When the valve 45 'is thus unseated,rfluid under pressure from the through passage 47 to the 'whistle'48, caus- .ing'the whistle to'sound. Byunakingand' L breaking the circuit by operating the switch 1 I Should the trainman cau'se" the 'conta'ct member 14 to-be depressed to signal :theen- 'gineman, when the plug 54 is iniitsproper position between the tines :40f'and 41; of the jack, direct current will-flowthrough the I 'ack rectifier 11 ma net nortion'of' the si i 7 n a nal device 10, train' wire '7, buzzer 5:and en ginemans sWitchQtO groun dfi', thus energizing's'aid magnet portion, which causes the valve 45 to seat and the val'vef' 51 to unseat, so that the reservoiri49 will be charged and the whistle 48 'will not be supplied with fluid under pressure and will l ren'i'a'in silent. It 5 will here be" noted that thecendenser 44- will coil '37 v of I the lllClhtlQliCOil 9 to ground 36, s

which currentQif the'co'ndcnseb were omitted,"

flowing through the coil 37, would magnetize the armature'or core 38, which would cause the interrupter 34: to be moved and held out of engagement with the contact 33 and wouldthus render the inductioncoil 9 inoperative, so that it would be impossible for the trainman to signal the engineman when-the plug st is inserted in the jack.

/Vhile one'illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it isnot my intentionzto limit its scope to that embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of w the appended claims. I I

Having now described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is c r 5 i 1. In a train signal SySte1l1,tl1 combination with a single train Wire, of an electric signal indicating device on the head vehicle ofatrain interposed insaidtrain wire and operative by alternating current, a switch" device on said vehicle normally connecting said train wire to ground,a source of direct current on each of the other vehicles of the train permanently connected to ground, means'on each of said other vehicles adapted to transform direct current into alternating current, a switch device on each of said other vehicles of the train operative to cut the local source of current in circuit with the local means and to out said local means in circuit with said train Wire to supply alternating current to said electric signal device, a fluid pressure operated signal device on each of said othervehicles,

an electro magnet on each ofsaid other vehicles operative upon energization to prevent fluid under pressure from flowing to the local fluid pressure operated signal device and operative upon deenergization to supply fluid under pressure to the local fluid pressure operated signal device, and means on each of said other vehicles for cutting said source of current in circuit with said electro magnet to energize it, the switch on the head vehicle being operative to a position to open and close the circuit through the electro-magnet cut-1n circuit on any ofsaid othervehicles'.

2. In a'traiu s gnal system, the combination with a single train wlre, normally connected to ground, of an electrically controlled signal device on the head vehicle of a 'traln' interposed in said train wire and operative by alternating current, a fluid pressure operated signed device on eachof the other vehicles of the train,electromagnetic means on each of said otliervehicles for controllingthe operation of a local fluid presure operated rent to the signal device on the head vehicle,

signal device and connected with said train wire, a source 'ofdirect current on each of said other vehicles having onecterminal con.- nected to ground and adapted to supply curand to the local electronagnetic means, means on each of said othervehicles for transforming the direct current from thelocal source:tojalternating current to operate the :signal device ontheheacl vehicle, means" on each said other vehicles for controllingthe operation ofthe electrically operated signal idevice, an' d swi'tc h means on the head'vehicle I operative to connectand disconnectfsaid train w re-to and I'rom'ground for opening and closing the circuit through the local source-of iicurrent and local el.ectroiiagnetic"means to "control the operat on ot'said local fluid pressure operated signal device. i

tioi witl ilja train wire normally connectedto ground, of an electrically controlled signal device on the'head vehicle of a train interposed in saiiitrainwire and operative by al- Qternating current, a fluid pressure operated signal device on each of the other vehicles,

In a train signal system, .the combina-f v andter circuit with the local induction i I mean sto' operate said electrically controlled 'fsignal dev ce, a switch'device on each of said other vehicles operative to out the local source of current in circuit withtlie local 1' electr magnetic means, and' mea ns on the head vehicleoperativeto connectand disconnect thetrainfwire to and from. ground 4, to control thekflowi of current through the.

local electi ef-i iagnetic means for; controlling the operation of-thelocal-fluid pressure operated signal devii c I, a r f 4, In a traiu gnal system, the combinationwithga single train Wire, of an electric s gnal device interposed nsaid train. wire 1 I on the head vehiclefof the train and operative by alternating current, {switch device on said, vehicle normally connecting said train .wire to ground, afsource otdire'ctlelectric ftrai'm' a 'fluid pressure operated signal devicefoneach of said othervehicles, a direct -current :electro-inagneti means on each of said other vehicles permanently connected to said train, wire, said electrofmagnetic means temgtpemme upon 'energizationito close off" the V supply of fluid under pressureto the ice current on eacl lotfth'e other vehicles of the local fluid pressure operated signal j-device d operative upon deenergization to sup y fluid under pressure tothe local signal de vice to sound a signal, a switch device on each of said other" vehicles operative to position to connect the local source of cur-,;

rent in circuit with the local electro-in'agnetic means for energizingit, the switch device on i the headvehicle being operativeto a positi'onto disconnect theIt-rain Wire from ground forideenergizing said local electro-magnet'ic means, means on each of said other vehicles for transforming direct current. [from the local source of current into alternating current, a SGCOIlClSWl'CClI device on each ofsaid other vehicles operativeto a position to con- ,nect the local source'of-current 1n circuit Wlth the local electro-magnetic means and to establishia connection over which alternating currentfromsaidlocal electro-magnetic switch devices are vin their circuit closing 7 means is supplied to said train Wire to op- V crate the signal device on the headvhicle, V and means for preventing the flow of direct current from said train Wire to said electromagnetic means when both of the local positions.

7 5. In atrain signal system, the combination with a singletrain Wire, normally connected to ground of an electrically controlled signal deviceon the head vehicle of a'train interposed in saicl -train Wire and 5 operative .byoalternatingcurrent, a fluid pressure operated signal device on each 'ofthe :other vehicles 'o'fthe train, electro '-1nagnetic f j means on each of said other vehicles for, controlling the operation of alocal ffluid pressure operated signal device andconnected with said train Wire, a source of direct current on each oifsaidother vehicles having one terminal connected to ground and adapted to supplycurrent to'the signal device on the head vehicle and to'th'e local electro-magnetic means, means on each of said other vehicles for transforming the direct current from the local source to alternating current to operate the signal device on the he'adjvehicle means 7 on each of said other vehicles for controlling the operation of the electrically operated signal device, switch meansonthehead'vehi cle operative to connect and disconnectsaid train Wire to and from ground foropenlng and closing the circuit through the local source 'of current and local electro-magnetic means tolcontrol the operation of said local fluid pressure operated signal device, and

means foripreventingthe flow of direct cur- Y 'rentfromysald tra1n"W 1rev to the 'current transformirig, means When said current col t my hand.

transforming means is cut in circuit with the V. j a train wire and whensaicl sourceofcurrent is cut in circuit w th said electromagnetic meansyand trainiwire I t 7 In testimonyxvhereof I have hereunto set flex 90,180

THOMAS: iil THOMAS. 

